Following the death of the 39th President, Jimmy Carter, on December 29, 2024, Donald Trump, the President-elect who had often criticized Carter during his presidency and 2024 campaign, issued statements of unexpected praise. Carter, who had lived to the age of 100, was acknowledged by Trump in a manner that contrasted markedly with his previous public remarks about him.
“We all owe him a debt of gratitude,” Trump posted on Truth Social, lauding Carter’s endeavors to “improve the lives of all Americans.”
This reconciliatory tone was a stark departure from Trump’s earlier portrayals of Carter. In October 2024, when Carter turned 100, Trump labeled him as “the forgotten president” and insinuated that Carter must be “the happiest man” since, according to Trump, Biden’s presidency had made Carter’s term seem more successful.
The rapport between the two presidents was fraught from the get-go. At a 2019 Carter Center event in Leesburg, Virginia, Carter contended that Russian interference had unfairly secured Trump the 2016 election. “There’s no doubt that the Russians did interfere in the election,” Carter stated. “And I think the interference, although not yet quantified, if fully investigated would show that Trump didn’t actually win the election in 2016.”
Trump quickly retorted at a G-20 summit press conference in Japan, dubbing Carter a “nice man” but a “terrible president” and “the forgotten president.” The critique persisted when Carter later voiced at a September 2019 Carter Center town hall in Atlanta that a second Trump term would be “a disaster,” also noting concerns about Trump’s age.
However, in his comments following Carter’s death, Trump admitted their differences but expressed respect: “While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I realized that he truly loved and respected our Country and all it stands for.”
Trump further noted that Carter was “very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office,” acknowledging Carter’s substantial humanitarian work through the Carter Center and his contributions to global peace initiatives that won him the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.
The turnaround in Trump’s stance evoked mixed responses from his followers. Some MAGA devotees censured his compassionate tone, particularly concerning Carter’s decision to pardon Vietnam War draft dodgers. Several key supporters took to social media to recall Carter’s economic policies during his presidency, which they argued led to significant inflation and interest rate hikes.
Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, expressed heartfelt condolences, stating they were “thinking warmly of the Carter Family” and acknowledging the “enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History.”
Carter’s death elicited reactions from other former presidents and global leaders. President Biden arranged for a state funeral in Washington, D.C., coinciding with the projected start of Trump’s second term. Biden, the first U.S. senator to endorse Carter’s 1976 presidential bid, had maintained a close relationship with Carter throughout his life, visiting him shortly after assuming office in 2021.
The state funeral plans underscore Carter’s enduring influence on American politics. Despite their political differences, Trump recognized that Carter’s post-presidency work in global health initiatives, including nearly eradicating Guinea worm disease and advocating for democracy worldwide through election monitoring, established a new benchmark for humanitarian engagement by former presidents.
Former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral is scheduled for January 9, 2025, at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. President Joe Biden has declared this date a National Day of Mourning, with federal agencies and departments closed in honor of the 39th president.
Prior to the funeral, Carter’s body will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda from January 7 to January 9, allowing the public to pay their respects. Following the Washington ceremonies, a private family service and interment will take place in Plains, Georgia, where Carter will be buried beside his late wife, Rosalynn Carter.
In recognition of Carter’s passing, President Biden has ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days, beginning December 29, 2024.
